Key Votes

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Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.

For more information about the legislative process, see here.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 3, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Oct. 27, 2015 National S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
Oct. 21, 2015 WI SB 43 Amends John Doe Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Oct. 21, 2015 OH SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Oct. 20, 2015 National S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Oct. 20, 2015 National S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Sept. 28, 2015 NC HB 318 Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
Sept. 24, 2015 National S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 17, 2015 MA S 1981 Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 9, 2015 CA AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
July 30, 2015 National HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
July 13, 2015 PA SB 683 Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
July 3, 2015 OR SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
June 30, 2015 OR SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
June 29, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 29, 2015 CT HB 7104 Amends Drug Sentencing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
June 25, 2015 OR SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
June 23, 2015 RI S 997 Establishes a Toll for Large Commercial Trucks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
June 19, 2015 CA SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 18, 2015 DE HB 39 Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
June 4, 2015 CA SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 3, 2015 LA HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
June 2, 2015 CT HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
May 29, 2015 CT HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
May 29, 2015 IL HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
May 27, 2015 MI HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 17, 2015 NV AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 16, 2015 NV AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
May 14, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 12, 2015 MI HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 7, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
May 7, 2015 CA SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 7, 2015 MN SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
May 5, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
May 1, 2015 HI HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
April 28, 2015 CO SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 27, 2015 TX SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 23, 2015 IL HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
April 23, 2015 MN SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
April 23, 2015 TX SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 16, 2015 TN SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 9, 2015 TX SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 7, 2015 TX SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 3, 2015 VT S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
April 2, 2015 ND HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/03 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
10/27 S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
10/21 SB 43 Amends John Doe Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
10/21 SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
10/20 S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
10/20 S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
9/28 HB 318 Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
9/24 S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
9/17 S 1981 Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/11 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/09 AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
7/30 HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
7/13 SB 683 Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
7/03 SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
6/30 SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
6/29 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/29 HB 7104 Amends Drug Sentencing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
6/25 SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
6/23 S 997 Establishes a Toll for Large Commercial Trucks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
6/19 SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/18 HB 39 Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
6/04 SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/03 HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
6/02 HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/02 SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/02 SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
5/29 HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
5/29 HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
5/27 HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/17 AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/16 AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
5/14 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/12 HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/07 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
5/07 SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/07 SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
5/05 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
5/01 HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
4/28 SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/27 SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/23 HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
4/23 SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
4/23 SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/16 SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/09 SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/07 SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/03 S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
4/02 HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)

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